New fascist tendencies emerging, warns Anu Muhammad at protest rally

Professor Anu Muhammad, a member of the Democratic Rights Council, warned of the rise of "new fascism" in the country during a citizen solidarity rally at Dhaka University’s Raju Sculpture on Saturday.

The rally was organised by the Democratic Student Alliance protesting the acquittal of convicted war criminal A.T.M. Azharul Islam and recent attacks on student processions in Rajshahi and Chattogram, according to local media.

He alleged increasing impunity for attackers and state inaction, saying, “New fascist forces are stirring across society.” Muhammad criticised the government's indifference and hinted at possible complicity of state forces in suppressing dissent.

Questioning Azharul’s acquittal, he said, “War crimes cannot be erased by court decisions alone.” He condemned attempts to portray the war crimes tribunal as anti-Islam, calling it a distortion of history and an insult to 1971’s martyrs.

Others speaking at the rally included Harun Ur Rashid and Manzoor Al Matin. Heavy rain curtailed the event.